Improvement in apparatus for the manufacture of illuminating-gas



P. WQM AUKENZIEL Apparatus for the Manufacture of llluminatingfias.

Fl -168.758. Patented on. n, 1875;

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NFETERS, FHOIO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINQTON. D. 2.

UNITED S TES;

A ENT PHILIP w. MACKENZIE, or BLAUVELTVILLE, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS'FOR THE MANUFACTURE 0F ILLUMINATINGrGAS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 168,758, dated October11, 1875; application filed November 7,1874.

CASE B.

less decomposing-chamber and one or more separately-heatedfixing-retorts. The invention also consists in a like combination ofparts or devices, together with an upper hydrocarbon-supply pipe to thedecomposingchamber.

The primary retort-for superheatingthe steam which passes to thedecomposing-chamher, as also said'chamber or furnace, are not hereseparately claimed as new, but are the same as described in anotherapplication for patent made by me for an improvement in apparatus forthe manufacture of gas by the combustion of water with carbon.

Figurel represents a vertical section, mainly on the line was and Fig.2, a longitudinal section on the line y y.

A is the retort, to which steam is admitted by a pipe, b, above, andwhich is constructed of compartments d, mounted one upon the other, andin communication with each other by contracted central openings e, topromote .a perfect circulation up and down within the retort, so thatthe steam passes in a highlyheated condition by the outlet 0 to thedecomposing-chamber B, which latter it is preferred to make without agrate, and with its cinder or ash pit D of larger area at its top thanthe base of the decomposing-chamber, to insure a free supply of thehighly-heated steam of the decomposing-chamber, and to prevent loss byradiation from below. The chamber B, in the present instance, is filledwith gas-coal, or other gas-producing solid substance rich in carbon,

and is charged from time to time as required,

said chamber being self-feeding, and the coke, cinders, and ash beingremoved from -below.

When hydrocarbon is used in addition, it is applied through a smallpipe, 8, in communication With the coal, the vapor of which, with thevapor of the hydrocarbon, prevents the caking of the coal. Thetemperature in this stage of the process does not carbonize or decomposethe vapor of the hydrocarbon or of the coal, but the hydrocarbon passesdown into the decomposing-chamber, and there combines with the hydrogenand carbonic oxide from below, and this combination is not hot enough tomake permanent gas. To make permanent gas, one or moreretorts, H, heatedby a separate fire or fires, are arranged in close proximity to thedecomposing chamber B, and the vapors drawn, by one or more steam-jetexhausters, E, through an upper flue, r,-and

down a vertical flue, u, to and through the retort H, which is providedwith fire-places, the

vapors and gases passing from the retorts H up stand-pipes a a, andthrough a hydraulic main, b, and from thence by the steam-jet exhaustersto the condenser G. The retorts H enable the operator to control theheat required to carbonize and convert the gases and vapors issuing fromthedecomposing-chamber B into a permanent gas. Without these retorts Hthe gas would pass off as vapor containing tar rich in carbon, and becondensed and washed out and wasted. The importance of the retorts Hwill be readily understood when it is considered that if a very highheat be imparted to the upper portion or furnace ofthedecomposing-chamber B, when the vapors of hydrocarbon are used, saidvapors would then be converted into lamp-black but the bottom of thedecomposing-chamber can- "Enron;

- Vertical and chambered steam-retort A, having upper steam -in1et b andlower superheated steam-outlet 0, with the grateless decomposing-chamberB and one or more separatelyheated fixing-retorts, H, substantially asspecified. p

2. The combination of the externally-heated Vertical and chamberedsteam-retort A, having upper steam-inlet b and lower superheatedsteam-outlets, with the grateless decomposing chamber B having an upperhydrocarbonsupply pipe, 8, and with one or more separately-heajzedfixing-retorts, H, as and for the purposes described.

P. W. MACKENZIE. Witnesses:

FRED. HAYNES, FEED. TUSGH.

